David Manners (1900-1998)

biography

Born on April 30, 1900, in Nova Scotia to a prosperous family, handsome Canadian-born actor David Manners moved to the U.S. as a young boy. As a college student at the University of Toronto, Manners developed an interest in the stage and acted in a number of productions. In the late 1920s, when studios were looking for stage actors with voices resonant enough for early sound film technology, Manners was discovered for films while in a stage role. Thanks to his handsome visage and sturdy voice, he was almost an immediate success, quickly working his way up from uncredited roles. In 1930, he landed a contract with Warner Bros./First National.

LEFT: Manners escorts Billie Dove in this 1931 photo. RIGHT: Manners with his dog in an early 1930s studio portrait

On loan from Warner Bros., his fortunes rose when he was cast as Jonathan Harker in Universal's Dracula (1931; with Bela Lugosi, a success which he followed up in The Mummy (1932; with Boris Karloff) and The Black Cat (1934; with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi).

the films of david manners

The Truth About Youth (1930)

Manners falls under the spell of vamp Myrna Loy in the Warner Bros./First National drama The Truth About Youth

The Miracle Woman (1931)

With Barbara Stanwyck in the Columbia drama The Miracle Woman

The Death Kiss (1932)

From the independently produced comedy The Death Kiss with Adrienne Ames

A Bill of Divorcement (1932)

Man Wanted (1932)>

With Kay Francis in the Warner Bros. romance Man Wanted

From Hell to Heaven (1933)

With Adrienne Ames in the Paramount drama From Hell to Heaven

Torch Singer (1933)

With Claudette Colbert in the Paramount musical drama Torch Singer

The Black Cat (1934)

From the Universal horror flick The Black Cat. LEFT: With Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. CENTER: With Jacqueline Wells, who later changed her screen name to Julie Bishop. RIGHT: Running lines with Wells

Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935)

later years

Although Manners proved to be a popular leading man in the early 1930s, by the mid 1930s he had been relegated to supporting roles at bigger studios and starring roles in poverty-row programmers, including Monogram's The Moonstone (1934; with Phyllis Barry), the Majestic comedy The Perfect Clue (1935; with Betty Blythe), and the Republic drama Hearts in Bondage (1936; with Mae Clarke). Following his supporting role in RKO's A Woman Rebels (1936; with Katharine Hepburn and Herbert Marshall), he walked away from films and moved to the desert, near Victorville, California. On occasion, he acted on stage through the 1950s and maintained a cast directory entry and agent into the early 1940s. Into his middle years, Manners concentrated on writing and published several novels. His partner of 30 years, writer Frederic William Mercer, passed away in 1978. Sadly, David Manners passed away at the age of 98 on December 23, 1998, leaving no survivors.